Exhaust gas treatment catalyst and method for regenerating the same

ABSTRACT

Provided are an exhaust gas treatment catalyst for denitrifying an exhaust gas including sulfur oxides and vanadium discharged from a heavy oil combustion boiler, including: a support comprising any one or all of titanium oxide and silica wherein a content of silica is from 10% to 20%, and an active component supported in the support and comprising one selected from the group consisting of vanadium and tungsten.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2012-195138 filed Sep. 5, 2012 andJapanese Patent Application No. 2013-182381 filed Sep. 3, 2013, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exhaust gas treatment catalyst thatremove nitrogen oxides from an exhaust gas discharged from combustiondevices such as heavy oil combustion boilers and the like usinglow-grade fuel and the like and a method for regenerating the exhaustgas treatment catalyst.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, focus has been placed on the effective utilization of coal,and in the future, it is predicted that demand on the clean process ofusing coal will be increased. In order to convert coal into a highlyvalue-added energy medium, advanced technologies, such as a coalgasification technology or a gas purification technology, are used.

As a removal method of nitrogen oxides (NO_(x)) generated from boilersor various combustion furnaces, an ammonia contact reduction method thatuses ammonia as a reducing agent and allows a catalyst to decomposenitrogen oxides into nitrogen and water per contiguum has been widelyused. As a NO_(x) removal catalyst that has been currently put topractical use, a honeycomb-shaped catalyst having a square apertureshape has become a mainstream in order to prevent blockage by dust inthe exhaust gas and increase the contact area of the exhaust gas.Further, as a catalyst component, catalyst components using titaniumoxide as a main component are excellent and catalyst componentsincluding vanadium, tungsten and the like as an active component aregenerally used.

In the case of a coal combustion boiler exhaust gas, calcium componentscontained usually in the dust in the exhaust gas are adhered to thecatalyst surface, anhydrous calcium sulfate included in the exhaust gasis produced to cover the catalyst surface, and NO and NH₃ gases areprevented from being diffused into the catalyst, thereby degrading theperformance of the catalyst. In order to regenerate the catalyticperformance of the NO_(x) removal catalysts, there has been proposed amethod for recovering the catalytic performance of the NO_(x) removalcatalyst, including: cleaning catalyst accumulated materials with analkali aqueous solution and removing the materials and then performingan activating treatment of the catalyst with an acid aqueous solution(see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3059136 and Japanese Patent No.3059137).

Here, several % vanadium (V) is included in the dust in the exhaust gasdischarged from heavy oil combustion boilers and the like usinglow-grade fuel and the like, and vanadium in the exhaust gas isdeposited as a V compound such as vanadium oxysulfate (VOSO₄) and thelike on the surface of the NO_(x) removal catalyst during the operation.Vanadium is a material that is an active component of a NO_(x) removalcatalyst and also promotes the oxidation reaction of SO₂ as a sidereaction, and thus as times passes, the oxidation reaction rate of SO₂in the NO_(x) removal catalyst is increased, thereby increasing theamount of corrosive SO₃ discharged into the slipstream side. Inaddition, when a film of VOSO₄ is precipitated on the surface of theNO_(x) removal catalyst, the catalytic performance of the NO_(x) removalcatalyst also deteriorates in order to suppress the gas diffusion of theexhaust gas.

However, as a method for recovering the catalyst performance of anitrification catalyst in the related art, an arsenic compound (As₂O₃)accumulated on the catalyst surface, which is caused by arsenic (As)included in the exhaust gas discharged from coal combustion boilers, maybe efficiently removed, but VOSO₄ may not be sufficiently removed. Forthis reason, when VOSO₄ accumulated on the catalyst surface of theNO_(x) removal catalyst is removed to recover the catalytic performanceof the NO_(x) removal catalyst and regenerate the NO_(x) removalcatalyst, the NO_(x) removal catalyst deteriorates and the strength ofthe NO_(x) removal catalyst is easily reduced, thereby making itdifficult to reuse the NO_(x) removal catalyst.

Thus, in the regeneration of the NO_(x) removal catalyst whose NO_(x)removal performance is reduced by the accumulation of V compounds suchas VOSO₄ and the like generated by vanadium present in the exhaust gas,there is need for an exhaust gas treatment catalyst which may beregenerated while suppressing the reduction in strength of the NO_(x)removal catalyst and a method for regenerating the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided anexhaust gas treatment catalyst for denitrifying an exhaust gas includingsulfur oxides and vanadium discharged from a heavy oil combustionboiler, including: a support comprising titanium and silica wherein acontent of silica is 10% by mass or more, and an active componentsupported in the support and comprising one selected from the groupconsisting of vanadium and tungsten.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan method for regenerating an exhaust gas treatment catalyst whoseNO_(x) removal performance is reduced by sulfur dioxides and vanadiumincluded in an exhaust gas discharged from a heavy oil combustionboiler, the exhaust gas treatment catalyst including: titanium andsilica; and an active component comprising one selected from the groupconsisting of vanadium and tungsten in a support having an Si content of10% by mass or more, and the method including: immersing the exhaust gastreatment catalyst in an alkali cleaning liquid at a concentration from0.5 N to 2.0 N so as to remove vanadium oxysulfate on the surface of theexhaust gas treatment catalyst, and subjecting the catalyst toactivation treatment with an acid aqueous solution after cleaning theexhaust gas treatment catalyst with the alkali cleaning liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating another configuration of the exhaust gastreatment catalyst;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method forregenerating the exhaust gas catalyst according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the relationship between the Si content (%by mass) to Ti and the SO₂ oxidation rate of a regenerated catalyst; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an exhaust gas treatment apparatus of aheavy oil combustion boiler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the drawings. Note that, the present invention is notlimited to the following embodiments of the present invention. Inaddition, constituting elements in the following embodiments includeelements which may be easily assumed by those skilled in the art, whichare substantially the same, and which are so-called in an equivalentrange. Moreover, constituent elements disclosed in the followingembodiments may be appropriately combined.

The embodiments of the present invention has an object to provide anexhaust gas treatment catalyst which may be regenerated whilesuppressing the reduction in strength of the catalyst and a method forregenerating the exhaust gas treatment catalyst.

<Exhaust Gas Treatment Catalyst>

An exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.1 is a schematic view illustrating an exhaust gas treatment catalystaccording to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an exhaust gastreatment catalyst 10 according to the embodiment is an exhaust gastreatment catalyst that denitrifies an exhaust gas including sulfuroxides (SO_(X)) and vanadium (V) discharged from heavy oil combustionboilers, and a catalyst that has an active component 11 and a support 12and has the active component 11 in a support 12. In the exhaust gastreatment catalyst 10 according to the embodiment, when NO, NH₃, SO_(X)and V (for example, V compound) in the exhaust gas are diffused into theexhaust gas by adding ammonia (NH₃) to the exhaust gas, NO is reduced toNO₂, thereby achieving NO_(x) removal.

Examples of the active component 11 include one component selected fromthe group consisting of vanadium (V) and tungsten (W). The activecomponent 11 may include at least one of molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe),cobalt (Co), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir),rhodium (Rh) and the like in addition to V and W. Examples of the activecomponent 11 may include simple substances thereof, mixtures thereof andthe like.

The support 12 is composed of titanium (Ti) and silicon (Si). Thesupport 12 may be composed of aluminum (Al), zirconium (Zr), cerium (Ce)and the like in addition to titanium (Ti) and silicon (Si). The support12 is preferably an oxide of TiO₂, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, ZrO₂ and CeO₂.Furthermore, the support 12 may include a complex oxide in which atleast two thereof or two or more elements are present. Examples of thecomplex oxide include TiO₂—SiO₂—Al₂O₃, TiO₂—SiO₂—ZrO₂, TiO₂—SiO₂—CeO₂and the like. Further, the support 12 may also be used in combination ofthe complex oxide and the mixture.

The content of Si in the support 12 is from 10% by mass to 20% by massand more preferably from 10% by mass to 15% by mass. More preferably,the content is from 11% by mass to 13% by mass.

The content of 10% by mass or less is not preferable because, asillustrated in the following test example, Si dissolves under alkalineconditions and the rate of remaining in the support 12 decreases andaccordingly the compressive strength decreases. Meanwhile, the contentof 20% by mass or more is not preferable because, when a honeycombcatalyst is molded, the shape retention after unmolding is notpreferable.

When the exhaust gas treatment catalyst 10 according to the embodimentis regenerated by including Si in the support 12 in the above range, theexhaust gas treatment catalyst 10 according to the embodiment may beregenerated without reducing the strength thereof even when dipped in analkali solution. Note that, the strength of the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst 10 according to the embodiments is obtained by measuring thecompressive strength and the like using a hardness tester such as, forexample, Kiya type hardness tester and the like.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the relationship between the Si content (%by mass) to Ti and the SO₂ oxidation rate of a regenerated catalyst. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, when Si exceeds 10% by mass and if the catalystis regenerated so that active components of V₂O₅ and WO₃ areresupported, the SO₂ oxidation rate improves. Note that 20% by mass ormore deteriorates molding.

Accordingly, the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to theembodiment may contain a predetermined amount of Si in a support tosuppress the deterioration caused by a sodium hydroxide aqueous solutionused during the regeneration thereof, and thus the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst may be regenerated while suppressing the deterioration of thestrength thereof. For this reason, when the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst according to the embodiment is used, the catalyst may be reusedin a good state while maintaining the removal performance of NO_(x)included in the exhaust gas discharged from combustion devices such asheavy oil combustion boilers and the like using a low-grade fuel and thelike.

In addition, the exhaust gas treatment catalyst 10 according to theembodiment may also have a coating layer 13 formed of at least onecomponent selected from the group consisting of silicalite andmetallosilicate on the surface thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 2. It ispossible to diffuse NO, NH₃ and SO_(X) in the exhaust gas into thecatalyst, reduce NO into NO₂ to achieve NO_(x) removal, and suppress V(for example, V compound) from infiltrating into the catalyst by formingthe coating layer 13 on the surface of the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst 10.

Here, in the NO_(x) removal of NO included in the exhaust gas by usingthe exhaust gas treatment catalyst 10 according to the embodiment, whenthe exhaust gas is a flue gas produced by combusting heavy oil in aboiler, V components are included in large amounts in the heavy oil. Forthis reason, when the V component in a state of vanadium pentoxide(V₂O₅) flies from the boiler to the exhaust gas treatment catalyst 10according to the embodiment and is adhered to the catalyst, the Vcomponent is reacted with sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and sulfur trioxide (SO₃)included in the exhaust gas as in the following Reaction Formula (I),and thus accumulated on the exhaust gas treatment catalyst 10 accordingto the embodiment in a state of vanadium oxysulfate (VOSO₄). Theaccumulation amount also differs depending on the content of sulfur (S)components in the heavy oil, but when the component is included in anamount of 1% by mass or more, the vanadium oxysulfate (VOSO₄) issignificantly accumulated. For this reason, when NO included in theexhaust gas produced by using heavy oil as a boiler fuel is denitrifiedby the exhaust gas treatment catalyst 10 according to the embodiment,VOSO₄ accumulated on the surface of the exhaust gas treatment catalyst10 according to the embodiment is removed to regenerate the catalyst.

<Method for Regenerating Exhaust Gas Treatment Catalyst>

An example of a method for regenerating the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst according to the embodiment of the present invention having theconstitution as described above will be described by using the drawings.FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method forregenerating the exhaust gas catalyst according to the embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the method for regenerating the exhaust gastreatment catalyst according to the embodiment has the followingprocesses.

(a) an alkali treatment process of immersing an exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst in an alkali cleaning liquid at a concentration from 0.7 N to2.0 N to remove VOSO₄ on the surface of the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst (step S11)

(b) an activation treatment process of subjecting the catalyst toactivation treatment with an acid aqueous solution after cleaning theexhaust gas treatment catalyst with an alkali cleaning liquid (step S12)

(c) a water cleaning process of cleaning the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst with water after subjecting the exhaust gas treatment catalystto activation treatment (step S13)

(d) a drying process of drying the exhaust gas treatment catalyst aftercleaning the exhaust gas treatment catalyst with water (step S14), and

(e) a firing process of firing the exhaust gas treatment catalyst afterdrying the exhaust gas treatment catalyst (step S15).

(Alkali Treatment Process: Step S11)

The operation of a boiler is stopped to take out the exhaust gastreatment catalyst according to the embodiment from a NO_(x) removalequipment, preliminarily cleaning the taken-out exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst according to the embodiment with water, and then immersing theexhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment in an alkalicleaning liquid to remove VOSO₄ accumulated on the surface of theexhaust gas treatment catalyst (alkali treatment process: step S11).

When the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment ispreliminarily cleaned with water, water at normal temperature is used,and the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment isimmersed therein for a predetermined time (for example, approximately 30minutes). The temperature of water is preferably from 10° C. to 80° C.This is because there is concern that heat energy which is not necessaryto cool water may be produced when the temperature is lower than 10° C.,and unnecessary heat energy may be produced even when the temperature ishigher than 80° C. The time for immersion in water is preferably from 30minutes to 5 hours. This is because there is concern that smoke dust andthe like adhered to the exhaust gas treatment catalyst may not besufficiently removed when the time is shorter than 30 minutes, and evenwhen the time is longer than 5 hours, smoke dust and the like adhered onthe catalyst are sufficiently removed until the period, and thus furthercleaning effects are little obtained.

As the alkali cleaning liquid, an alkali aqueous solution is used. Asthe alkali aqueous solution, an aqueous solution of, for example, sodiumhydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃),sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) or potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) and the likemay be used, and among them, NaOH is preferred from the viewpoint ofreadiness in use and costs.

It is preferred that the concentration of the alkali cleaning liquid isusually in a range from 0.05% by weight to 20% by weight. This isbecause the cleaning effects may not be sufficiently achieved in somecases when the concentration of the alkali cleaning liquid is less than0.05% by weight, and the costs of treatment facilities may be increasedin some cases when the concentration of the alkali cleaning liquid ismore than 20% by weight. Furthermore, when a NaOH aqueous solution isused as the alkali cleaning liquid, the concentration of the NaOHaqueous solution is preferably from 0.5 N to 2.0 N, more preferably from0.7 N to 1.5 N and even more preferably from 0.8 N to 1.2 N. This isbecause cleaning effects of the catalyst may not be sufficient in somecases when the concentration of the NaOH aqueous solution is less than0.5 N, and the costs of treatment facilities may be increased in somecases when the concentration of the NaOH aqueous solution is more than2.0 N.

The temperature of the alkali cleaning liquid is preferably from 10° C.to 90° C., more preferably from 20° C. to 75° C. and even morepreferably from 40° C. to 65° C. This is because the cleaning effects ofthe catalyst may not be sufficient in some cases when the temperature ofthe alkali cleaning liquid is lower than 10° C., and the costs oftreatment facilities may be increased in some cases when the temperatureof the alkali cleaning liquid is higher than 90° C.

In the embodiment, as the cleaning method of the catalyst, the exhaustgas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment is immersed in thealkali cleaning liquid to remove VOSO₄ on the surface of the exhaust gastreatment catalyst, but the cleaning method is not particularly limited,and a method for leaving a NO_(x) removal catalyst to stand in anammonia cleaning liquid may be used and the catalyst may also be cleanedby spraying the alkali cleaning liquid to the catalyst to contact thealkali cleaning liquid with the catalyst.

Further, an air supply unit for supplying air to the alkali cleaningliquid may be provided to supply air to the alkali cleaning liquid forbubbling, and forced convection may be generated to promote the cleaningefficiency of the catalyst.

(Activation Treatment Process: Step S12)

The exhaust gas treatment catalyst is cleaned with an alkali cleaningliquid, and then the exhaust gas treatment catalyst is immersed in anacid aqueous solution to subject the catalyst to activation treatment(activation treatment process: step S12).

In the alkali treatment process S11, VOSO₄ may be cleaned and removedfrom the surface of the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to theembodiment, but when the alkali cleaning liquid used in cleaning andremoval is remaining in the catalyst, ions of alkali components (alkalimetal ions, alkali earth metal ions and the like) may remain in theexhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment, and theexhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment is poisonedby the ions of alkali components. The ions of alkali components may beresponsible for the deterioration of the exhaust gas treatment catalystaccording to the embodiment, thereby reducing the strength of theexhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment.

Therefore, the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to theembodiment is cleaned with the alkali cleaning liquid, and then theexhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment is immersedin an acid aqueous solution. Accordingly, ions of alkali components(alkali metal ions, alkali earth metal ions and the like) which mayremain on the catalyst to become a poisoned material of the catalyst areions converted into hydrogen ions (H+) of an acid aqueous solution ofHCl and the like. As a result, ions of alkali components in the catalystmay be removed to recover the activity of the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst according to the embodiment.

Further, as the acid aqueous solution, an acid aqueous solutionincluding any one of an organic acid and an inorganic acid may be used,but considering the burden of post-treatment and the like, it ispreferred that an acid aqueous solution using an inorganic acid is used.In addition, the inorganic acid may be used regardless of whether theacid is strong or weak as long as the acid is an inorganic acid capableof exchanging ions with sodium or potassium.

As the acid aqueous solution, it is possible to use an aqueous solutionof, for example, hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO₃), hydrogenfluoride (HF) or sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and the like.

The concentration of the acid aqueous solution differs depending on theacid aqueous solution used, but when the acid aqueous solution is aH₂SO₄ solution, the concentration of the H₂SO₄ solution is preferablyfrom 0.5 N to 2.0 N, more preferably from 0.7 N to 1.5 N and even morepreferably from 0.8 N to 1.2 N. This is because ions may not besufficiently exchanged in some cases when the concentration of the H₂SO₄solution is less than 0.5 N, and the costs of treatment facilities maybe increased in some cases when the concentration of the H₂SO₄ solutionis more than 2.0 N.

The temperature of the acid aqueous solution is preferably from 10° C.to 90° C., more preferably from 20° C. to 75° C. and even morepreferably from 25° C. to 50° C. This is because ions may not besufficiently exchanged in some cases when the temperature of the acidaqueous solution is lower than 10° C., and the costs of treatmentfacilities may be increased in some cases when the temperature of theacid aqueous solution is higher than 40° C.

(Water Cleaning Process: Step S13)

The exhaust gas treatment catalyst is cleaned with water aftersubjecting the exhaust gas treatment catalyst to activation treatment(water cleaning process: step S13). The exhaust gas treatment catalystaccording to the embodiment is immersed for a predetermined time (forexample, approximately 30 minutes). Accordingly, acid remaining in theexhaust gas treatment catalyst may be removed from the exhaust gastreatment catalyst. When the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according tothe embodiment is cleaned with water, the temperature of water ispreferably from 10° C. to 80° C. This is because there is concern thatacid remaining in the exhaust gas treatment catalyst may not besufficiently dissolved in water and removed when the temperature islower than 10° C., and unnecessary heat energy is produced even when thetemperature is higher than 80° C. The time for being immersed in wateris preferably from 30 minutes to 5 hours. This is because there isconcern that acid remaining in the exhaust gas treatment catalyst maynot be sufficiently cleaned with water when the time is shorter than 30minutes, and even when the time is longer than 5 hours, acid remainingin the fuel gas treatment catalyst is sufficiently removed by themeantime, and thus further cleaning effects are little obtained.

(Drying Process: Step S14)

The exhaust gas treatment catalyst is cleaned with water, and then theexhaust gas treatment catalyst is dried (drying process: step S14). Thedrying temperature of the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according tothe embodiment is preferably, for example, from 90° C. to 150° C. Thisis because the catalyst may not be sufficiently dried in some cases whenthe drying temperature is lower than 90° C., and the costs of treatmentfacilities may be increased in some cases when the drying temperature ishigher than 150° C. The drying time is preferably, for example, from 1hour to 10 hours. This is because the catalyst may not be sufficientlydried in some cases when the drying time is less than 1 hour, and thecosts of treatment facilities may be increased in some cases when thedrying time is more than 10 hours.

(Firing Process: Step S15)

The exhaust gas treatment catalyst is dried, and then the exhaust gastreatment catalyst is fired (firing process: step S15). The firingtemperature of the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to theembodiment is preferably, for example, from 400° C. to 800° C., morepreferably from 450° C. to 700° C. and even more preferably from 500° C.to 600° C. This is because the catalyst may not be sufficiently fired insome cases when the firing temperature is lower than 400° C., and thecosts of treatment facilities may be increased in some cases when thefiring temperature is higher than 800° C.

The time for firing the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to theembodiment is preferably, for example, from 1 hour to 10 hours, morepreferably from 2 hours to 7 hours and even more preferably from 3 hoursto 5 hours. This is because the catalyst may not be sufficiently firedin some cases when the firing time is less than 1 hour, and the costs oftreatment facilities may be increased in some cases when the firing timeis more than 10 hours.

After the firing, the regenerated exhaust gas treatment catalystaccording to the embodiment may be inserted into a NO_(x) removalequipment to be reused.

When the method for regenerating the exhaust gas treatment catalystaccording to the embodiment of the present invention is used in thismanner, it is possible to remove VOSO₄ accumulated on the catalystsurface and suppress the deterioration of the catalyst caused by analkali solution used when VOSO₄ accumulated on the catalyst surface isremoved to regenerate the catalyst. Further, it is possible to removeall of the ions of alkali components in the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst according to the embodiment by subjecting the exhaust gastreatment catalyst according to the embodiment to activation treatment.Therefore, even though VOSO₄ accumulated on the catalyst surface isdissolved when the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to theembodiment is used to remove NO_(x) in the combustion exhaust gas, theexhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment may beregenerated while suppressing the reduction in strength of the catalyst.

Note that, the alkali treatment process S11 and the activation treatmentprocess S12 are performed, and then an impregnation and dipping processof dipping an active component in a support may be additionallyprovided, if necessary. The NO_(x) removal catalyst may be regeneratedby dipping an active component in a support during the impregnation anddipping process. During the alkali treatment and the activationtreatment by acid, an active component (V, W and the like) of thecatalyst may be eluted from the support and the deterioration of theNO_(x) removal performance caused by reduction in concentration of theactive components in the catalyst may occur in some cases. VOSO₄ on thecatalyst surface may be cleaned and removed, the catalyst may be cleanedwith water and dried, and then the active component (V, W and the like)may also be impregnated and supported in a support such that theconcentration of the active component in the catalyst becomes identicalto the concentration thereof before the regeneration. Examples of amethod for dipping V include a method for immersing the catalyst in anaqueous solution in which a vanadium compound such as V₂O₅, ammoniummetavanadate, vanadyl sulfate and the like is dissolved in water, anorganic acid and an amine solution. Examples of a method for dipping Winclude a method for immersing the catalyst in an aqueous solution inwhich a tungsten compound such as ammonium paratungstate, ammoniummetatungstate, tungsten troxide, tungsten chloride and the like isdissolved in water, hydrochloric acid, an amine solution and an organicacid.

As described above, the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to theembodiment contains a predetermined amount of Si in a support, and thusthe exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment may beregenerated while suppressing the reduction in strength. In the boilercombustion, when the regeneration treatment of the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst according to the embodiment is performed while a V compoundsuch as VOSO₄ and the like present in the exhaust gas at hightemperature in unburned matters covers the surface of the exhaust gastreatment catalyst according to the embodiment, it is possible toregenerate the exhaust gas treatment catalyst with the reduction instrength suppressed by an alkali treatment and an activation treatmenteven though V compounds such as VOSO₄ and the like covering the surfaceof the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment areremoved.

Therefore, when the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to theembodiment is used, the catalyst may be reused in a good state whilemaintaining the removal performance of NO_(x) included in the exhaustgas discharged from combustion devices such as heavy oil combustionboilers and the like using a low-grade fuel and the like. Further, theexhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment may beregenerated and used to be used for a longer period, and thus the burdenof the facility costs may be alleviated and the amount of industrialwaste discharged may be reduced.

Note that, as described above, VOSO₄ accumulated on the catalyst surfaceis removed through an alkali treatment by an alkali aqueous solution,but an active component V of the NO_(x) removal catalyst and the likemay be eluted to reduce the concentration of the active componentremaining in the catalyst in some cases. In this case, it is effectiveto appropriately dip the active component (for example, V, W and thelike) in the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodimentin a support, thereby recovering the catalyst performance.

Further, the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodimentmay also be cleaned and then ground to be reused as a raw material forthe exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to the embodiment.Furthermore, the ground exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to theembodiment may also be ground as a raw material in a slurry shape andrecoated on the surface of the exhaust gas treatment catalyst accordingto the embodiment to be reused.

Test Example

Thereafter, test results obtained by using the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst according to the embodiment will be described.

Test Examples 1-1 to 1-9 Evaluation of Compressive Strength

First, a used catalyst (honeycomb catalyst of 6 holes×7 holes×900 mm)with vanadium oxysulfate (VOSO₄) deposited on the catalyst surface isprepared. The used catalyst is cut into nine equal pieces to prepareSamples 1 to 9. Thereafter, as shown in Table 1, each used catalyst iscleaned under the alkali cleaning condition shown in Table 1.Thereafter, the compressive strength of a regenerated catalyst obtainedby drying the used catalyst which is cleaned or by drying and firing theused catalyst which is cleaned is measured. The compressive strength ismeasured by using a Kiya type hardness tester (manufactured by FujiwaraScientific Co., Ltd.). The alkali cleaning condition and compressivestrengths of each used catalyst are shown in Table 1.

Here, a composite catalyst of titanium (Ti) and silica (Si) where thecontent of Si is 11% by mass was used for the support of the catalyst inthe test.

The firing temperature was 500° C.

TABLE 1 Compressive strength (Kg/cm²) Alkali cleaning Sample After Afterdrying condition No. drying and firing Test Example 1N—NaOH aqueous 11.2 — 1-1 solution, Test Example 60° C., 30 min 2 — 1.5 1-2 Test Example3 1.0 — 1-3 (Average 1.1 1.5 value) Test Example 1N—NaOH aqueous 4 1.3 —1-4 solution, Test Example 60° C., 15 min 5 — 1.7 1-5 Test Example 6 2.6— 1-6 (Average 2.0 1.7 value) Test Example 1N—NaOH aqueous 7 1.4 — 1-7solution, Test Example 40° C., 30 min 8 — 4.2 1-8 Test Example 9 1.6 —1-9 (Average 1.5 4.2 value)

Thereafter, the amounts of V, SiO₂ and VOSO₄ included in the alkalicleaning liquids in Test Examples 1-2, 1-5 and 1-8 are measured.

TABLE 2 Test Example Test Example Test Example 1-2 1-5 1-8 Alkalicleaning condition (1N—NaOH aqueous solution) 60° C., 30 min 60° C., 15min 40° C., 30 min V (mg/l) 2000 2070 1870 SiO₂ (mg/l) 7450 3220 1910VOSO₄ (g/Total 5.78 5.99 5.41 amount) SiO₂ (g/Total 6.73 2.91 1.72amount) VOSO₄ 35.5 36.7 33.2 (g/Catalyst 1 m²) SiO₂ (g/Catalyst 1 m²)41.3 17.8 10.6

As shown in Table 1, it can be confirmed that the compressive strengthof the regenerated catalyst may be improved by drying the used catalystwhich has been cleaned with the alkali cleaning liquid and thenadditionally firing the catalyst (see Test Examples 1-1 to 1-9).

Further, as shown in Table 2, it can be confirmed that the amount ofSiO₂ released from the used catalyst to the alkali cleaning liquid issmaller under a less rigorous alkali cleaning condition when thecatalyst is cleaned with the alkali cleaning liquid (see Test Examples1-2, 1-5 and 1-8).

Accordingly, it can be said that the smaller the amount of SiO₂ releasedfrom the used catalyst is, the higher the strength of the used catalystis when the catalyst is cleaned with the alkali cleaning liquid and thenfired.

Test Examples 2-1 to 2-13 Evaluation of Compressive Strength

In addition, other alkali cleaning conditions are used to measure thecompressive strength of a regenerated catalyst regenerated by cleaningthe used catalyst.

First, as described above, a catalyst before use and a used catalyst(honeycomb catalyst of 6 holes×7 holes×900 mm) with vanadium oxysulfate(VOSO₄) deposited on the catalyst surface are prepared. The usedcatalyst is cut into thirteen equal pieces to prepare Samples 1 to 13.Thereafter, as shown in Table 1, each used catalyst is cleaned under thealkali cleaning condition shown in Table 2. Thereafter, the compressivestrength of a regenerated catalyst obtained by drying the used catalystwhich is cleaned or by drying and firing the used catalyst which iscleaned is measured. The compressive strength is measured by using thesame as above. The alkali cleaning condition and compressive strengthsof each catalyst are shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Compressive strength (Kg/cm2) After Alkali drying cleaningSample After and condition No. drying firing Test Example Catalyst — 13.5 — 2-1 before Test Example use 2 3.0 — 2-2 (Average 3.3 — value) TestExample Used 3 4.2 — 2-3 catalyst Test Example (before 4 4.7 — 2-4alkali cleaning) (Average 4.5 — value) Test Example Used 1N—NaOH 5 2.5 —2-5 catalyst aqueous Test Example (After solution 6 — 2.5 2-6 alkali 40°C., cleaning) 15 min Test Example 7 3.5 — 2-7 (Average 3.0 2.5 value)Test Example 1N—NaOH 8 3.9 — 2-8 aqueous Test Example solution 9 — 3.62-9 20° C., 30 min Test Example 10  2.2 — 2-10 (Average 3.1 3.6 value)Test Example 1N—NaOH 11  2.7 — 2-11 aqueous Test Example solution, 12  —4.1 2-12 Normal Test Example temperature, 13  2.9 — 2-13 120 min(Average 2.8 4.1 value)

Thereafter, the amounts of V, SiO₂ and VOSO₄ included in the alkalicleaning liquids in Test Examples 2-6, 2-9 and 2-12 are measured.

TABLE 4 Test Test Example Test Example Example 2-6 2-9 2-12 Alkalicleaning condition (1N—NaOH aqueous solution) Normal Normal temperature,temperature, 40° C., 15 min 30 min 120 min V (mg/l) 2320 1460 1860 SiO₂(mg/l) 394 221 1430 VOSO₄ (g/Total 6.71 4.22 5.83 amount) SiO₂ (g/Totalamount) 0.36 0.20 1.29 VOSO₄ (g/Catalyst 1 m²) 41.2 25.9 33.0 SiO₂(g/Catalyst 1 m²) 2.2 1.2 7.9

As shown in Table 3, it can be confirmed that the used catalyst immersedin a 1 N—NaOH aqueous solution at 40° C. for 15 minutes has a strengthalmost equal to that of the catalyst before use even after drying (seeTest Example 2-1, 2-2 and 2-5 to 2-7). Furthermore, it can be confirmedthat the strengths of the used catalyst immersed in a 1 N—NaOH aqueoussolution at normal temperature (20° C.) for 30 minutes and the usedcatalyst immersed in a 1 N—NaOH aqueous solution at normal temperature(20° C.) for 120 minutes are all improved by firing all the catalystsafter drying (see Test Examples 2-8 to 2-13).

Further, as shown in Table 4, it can be said that VOSO₄ is stillremaining on the catalyst surface from the fact that the amount of VOSO₄in the 1 N—NaOH aqueous solution, in which the used catalyst has beenimmersed at room temperature (20° C.) for 30 minutes, is small (see TestExample 2-9). In addition, it can be said that when the used catalyst isimmersed in the 1 N—NaOH aqueous solution at room temperature for 120minutes, VOSO₄ may be separated while suppressing the amount of SiO₂separated from the used catalyst within an allowable range (see TestExample 2-12).

Furthermore, it can be confirmed that the used catalyst immersed in the1 N—NaOH aqueous solution at 20° C. for 30 minutes and the used catalystimmersed in the 1 N—NaOH aqueous solution at normal temperature for 120minutes may be dried and then additionally subjected to firing toimprove the compressive strength of the regenerated exhaust gastreatment catalyst (see Test Examples 2-8 to 2-13).

Accordingly, it can be said that, in the case of immersion in an NaOHaqueous solution at 40° C. for 15 minutes and even in the case ofimmersion in an NaOH aqueous solution at room temperature (20° C.),VOSO₄ may be sufficiently separated from the used catalyst while keepingthe amount of SiO₂ separated from the exhaust gas treatment catalystwithin an allowable range, and the catalyst may be regenerated. Further,it can be said that the smaller the amount of SiO₂ released from theexhaust gas treatment catalyst is, the higher the strength of the usedcatalyst may be when the catalyst is cleaned with the alkali cleaningliquid and then fired.

<Exhaust Gas Treatment Apparatus>

Preferred embodiments, in which the exhaust gas treatment catalystaccording to the embodiment is used in an exhaust gas treatmentapparatus, will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an exhaustgas treatment apparatus of a heavy oil combustion boiler. As illustratedin FIG. 5, a combustion gas 21 in a heavy oil combustion boiler 20 usingheavy oil F produces steam in a steam generating pipe in a furnace 22(the produced steam is separated into gas and liquid in a steam drum 23,the steam is guided into a super heater 24 to become a superheated watersteam and is used for driving a steam turbine, and then the condensedwater is refluxed into a water pipe in the furnace 22 andre-evaporated), the steam is superheated by the super heater 24, andthen water supplied to the heavy oil combustion boiler 20 is heated byan economizer 25 to discharge the combustion gas 21 as a flue gas 26from an exit of the economizer 25. The flue gas 26 discharged from theabove economizer 25 is supplied to a NO_(x) removal equipment 27 thatdenitrifies nitrogen oxides (NO_(x)) in the flue gas, air 29 is heatedby heat exchange in an air heater (AH) 28, and then the flue gas 26 issupplied to a dust collecting equipment 30, then again supplied to aSO_(X) removal equipment 31 that desulfurizes sulfur oxides (SO_(X)) inthe flue gas, and then is discharged in the atmosphere as a purified gas32.

Further, the NO_(x) removal equipment 27 sprays ammonium (NH₃) to theupstream side of the NO_(x) removal to reduce and denitrify the flue gas26 from the heavy oil combustion boiler 20. In front of the NO_(x)removal equipment 27, ammonia is sprayed to denitrify ammonia from theNO_(x) removal equipment 27. The NO_(x) removal equipment 27 includes aNO_(x) removal catalyst 27 a, and the exhaust gas treatment catalystaccording to the embodiment is used in the NO_(x) removal catalyst 27 a.Accordingly, even though the NaOH aqueous solution is used during theregeneration of the NO_(x) removal catalyst 27 a, the deteriorationcaused by the NaOH aqueous solution may be suppressed, and thus thecatalyst may be regenerated while suppressing the reduction in strength.For this reason, when the exhaust gas treatment catalyst according toembodiments of the invention is used, the catalyst may be reused in agood state while maintaining the removal performance of NO_(x) includedin the combustion gas 21 discharged from the heavy oil combustion boiler20 using a low-grade fuel and the like.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein setforth.

What is claimed is:
 1. An exhaust gas treatment catalyst fordenitrifying an exhaust gas including sulfur oxides and vanadiumdischarged from a heavy oil combustion boiler, comprising: a supportcomprising titanium and silica wherein a content of silica is 10% bymass or more, and an active component supported in the support andcomprising one selected from the group consisting of vanadium andtungsten.
 2. The exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to claim 1,further comprising a coating layer formed of at least one componentselected from the group consisting of silicalite and metallosilicate ona surface of the exhaust gas treatment catalyst.
 3. A method forregenerating an exhaust gas treatment catalyst whose NO_(x) removalperformance is reduced by sulfur dioxides and vanadium included in anexhaust gas discharged from a heavy oil combustion boiler, the exhaustgas treatment catalyst comprising: titanium and silica; and an activecomponent comprising one selected from the group consisting of vanadiumand tungsten in a support having an Si content of 10% by mass or more,and the method comprising: immersing the exhaust gas treatment catalystin an alkali cleaning liquid at a concentration from 0.5 N to 2.0 N soas to remove vanadium oxysulfate on the surface of the exhaust gastreatment catalyst, and subjecting the catalyst to activation treatmentwith an acid aqueous solution after cleaning the exhaust gas treatmentcatalyst with the alkali cleaning liquid.
 4. The method for regeneratingan exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to claim 3, wherein theexhaust gas treatment catalyst further comprises a coating layer formedof at least one component selected from the group consisting ofsilicalite and metallosilicate on a surface thereof.
 5. The method forregenerating an exhaust gas treatment catalyst according to claim 3,wherein the alkali cleaning liquid is an aqueous solution of sodiumhydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate orpotassium carbonate, and the acid aqueous solution is an aqueoussolution of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, hydrogen fluoride orsulfuric acid.